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I have edited this question to make the implied scope a bit more explicit, so that the question more closely adheres to our current standards.
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FlimzyJul 7 '14 at 20:31

5 Answers
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This misinterpretation is due to a language shift since the days of King James, when that version of the Ten Commandments was set forth. The term "kill" back then meant what "murder" means today, and I think that everyone would agree that that's a good thing to prohibit in strong, absolute terms.

If you look through the King James Version of the Bible, you don't see the word "kill" used very often, and when it's used it invariably refers to murder. For a non-murderous cause of death, the word is "slay". This is what soldiers do to each other, and if I recall correctly it's also what the priests did to the sacrificial animals.

does it also mean that God didn't forbid people going to war? and God actually support war?
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PheliosAug 24 '11 at 1:36

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@Phelios - read the OT he commanded it then. However, we might distinguish that this was a part of him building his people and giving them their land. He didn't do it at all in the NT.
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wax eagle♦Aug 24 '11 at 1:49

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@Mason. Just to add a point, I think instead of pointing it to King James, shouldn't we point it to the original verb (Hebrew) and then try to explain what that word means in English?
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PacerierSep 25 '11 at 15:59

There are two ways to approach that commandment. Either it is absolute or it is relative: it can either refer to all of human life, or some subset of human life. Clearly it cannot be the former as the Torah also allows for the death penalty (before anyone tries to argue, "but Christ says..." or "but the woman caught in adultery..." I will counter that the original question is in reference to the 10 Commandments and their context must be the first place we look for the intended meaning). Therefore it must be some sub-set of humans who should not be killed. We also know (similarly from the Torah) that there were circumstances where war was acceptable, so the original, intended meaning of the commandment cannot be said to include war.

Based off of the penal laws of the Old Testament, it actually becomes fairly clear that "kill" here, for a private citizen, must mean wrathfully and willfully (Exo. 21:14) or through negligence (c.f. Exo. 21:28). However, if the person is caught in the commission of a crime, that "killing" is licit (Exo. 22:1). As far as a society is concerned, however, it is clear that both the death penalty and war are not only permitted, but at times even encouraged.

Now, to bring this forward to Christianity. While we cannot deny the admonitions to "turn the other cheek", "he who is without sin", and "he who lives by the sword", it should be noted that there is nothing which actually condemns the legitimate defense of one's household and property. If anything, Christ's use of a whip to injure (what else would the whip do?) the money-lenders in the temple should be seen as an expression that sometimes violence is not only justified, but necessary (Christ always did the best thing, overturning the tables and making a whip, therefore, must have been the best thing).

if they break into our house we are suppose to give them everything they want, we are not suppose to be of this world. In addition fight in war is not the same.
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Greg McNultyOct 9 '12 at 19:14

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And if someone wants to defile your body? If someone insists on cutting you apart piece-by-piece, are you suggesting that it would be inappropriate to try to leave the room?
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Ignatius TheophorusOct 10 '12 at 13:53

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@GregMcNulty The lesson about "turning the other cheek" is not Jesus telling you to be a wuss. It is about Jesus telling you not to be treated as inferior (the slap on one side, as a slave, as opposed to the fist on the other, as an equal)... Likewise the taking of the shirt (and leaving you with nothing) was tremendously dishonoring to the oppressor. Jesus is telling you to "turn the tables"...
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MatthewOct 11 '12 at 16:04

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@IgnatiusTheophorus: your losing your case here, yes obviously you can try to leave the room. When was trying to leave the room a question? But back to the original question - you CAN NOT kill your enemy.
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Greg McNultyOct 11 '12 at 22:47

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@MatthewPK: sure, turn the tables, becuase YES they are inferior, BUT YOU CAN NOT KILL YOUR ENEMY. You must forgive them and love them.
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Greg McNultyOct 11 '12 at 22:49

I was just studying this. If you read more about this very topic you'll find that God is talking about shedding innocent blood.

Have a look at what God did here:

Judges 3:1-2 (New International Version)

1 These are the nations the LORD left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan

2 (he did this only to teach warfare to the descendants of the Israelites who had not had previous battle experience):

God literally preserved wicked nations around Israel just to teach the Israelite's how to fight. Have a look at this other command straight from Jesus.

Luke 22:36 (New International Version)

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.

Jesus is telling us to carry a sword with us when we go out to preach his word. God is not a pushover. God is a man's man that is very capable of sending you into battle, so that you may bring Him glory.

When you hear preachers saying that soldiers need to repent, well, that preacher needs to read his Bible and come to terms with the fact that God is the General of His people.

God ejected Canaanites out of their land through Israelites, because of their wickedness (Leviticus 18:24-28, Deuteronomy 9:4-5).

David Kills Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. David Killed Goliath, because Philistines came for war against Israel. So Israel had to defend themselves.

On the top of that, Goliath was an egotistical man and cursed David by his gods (1 Samuel 17:41-44). As David points out in 1 Samuel 17:45, Goliath defied God. So with the help of God, David killed Goliath (1 Samuel 17:50).

Jesus Christ called his generation "Wicked and Adulterous generation" (Matthew 16:4, Mark 8:38). That's why he prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem (in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21) which occurred in 70 AD through Titus and his Roman Army as explained by Josephus in his word Jewish Wars (especially Book Six).

Are you saying that "kill" is an accurate translation of the Hebrew in 21st century English? Can you present some evidence that Mason Wheeler is wrong then?
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curiousdanniiJun 14 '14 at 23:20

In Aramaic Old Testament, the word "qtal" means to kill or to slay or to murder. This can be seen in Payne Smith's A Compendious Syriac dictionary, Page 501. Payne smith points out that it should be "Thou shalt not murder" in the same page.
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konwaykJun 16 '14 at 17:54

But he turned and rebuked them.
He turned himself about to them, and
looking upon them with a stern countenance, sharply reproved them for
their intemperate zeal, their passion of wrath, and anger, and desire
of revenge:

and said, ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of;
or do not
consider that this is not the true spirit of zeal, but of anger and
revenge; and is not agreeable to the spirit of the meek and humble
followers of Christ, or to the Spirit of God, and those gifts of his
bestowed on them, nor to the spirit of the Gospel dispensation: so
good men, for want of attention, may not know sometimes from what
spirit they act; taking that for a good one, which is a very bad one;
being covered with specious pretenses of love and zeal, and the
examples of former saints; not observing the difference of persons;
times, and things.

-

Love Your Enemies

27 “But I say to you people who are listening to me, love your
enemies. Do good to those who hate you. 28 Ask God to bless the people
who ask for bad things to happen to you. Pray for the people who are
mean to you. 29 If someone hits you on the side of your face, let them
hit the other side too. If someone takes your coat, don’t stop them
from taking your shirt too. 30 Give to everyone who asks you for
something. When someone takes something that is yours, don’t ask for
it back. 31 Do for others what you want them to do for you.

32 “If you love only those who love you, should you get any special
praise for doing that? No, even sinners love those who love them! 33
If you do good only to those who do good to you, should you get any
special praise for doing that? No, even sinners do that! 34 If you
lend things to people, always expecting to get something back, should
you get any special praise for that? No, even sinners lend to other
sinners so that they can get back the same amount!

35 “I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to
people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you
will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God.
Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and
not thankful. 36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives
love and mercy.

Luke 9

23 Jesus continued to say to all of them, “Any of you who want to be
my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You
must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you every day for
following me. 24 Any of you who try to save the life you have will
lose it. But you who give up your life for me will save it. 25 It is
worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are
destroyed or lost. 26 Don’t be ashamed of me and my teaching. If that
happens, I[a] will be ashamed of you when I come with my divine
greatness and that of the Father and the holy angels. 27 Believe me
when I say that some of you people standing here will see God’s
kingdom before you die.”

Sorry but this commandment means exactly what it says.

God and Jesus are telling us not to take life in any context or situation.

God is all powerful and perfect - if he want's someone gone He can do it himself, He can wipe out an entire continent or the world with a flood if needed. I don't think I need a reference for that one.

With that said, why would we think we need to kill any one in any context, innocent, non-innocent, enemy, friend, slay in war, etc.

That would be taking the matter into our own hands and not trusting God.

God can change a killing situation in a second:

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two
edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,
and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12 KJV).

God is also trying to protect us from being killed:

Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for
all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Matthew
26:52, King James Version)

The commandment is also reiterated from Jesus' mouth.
Matthew 19: 16-18

16 A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do
to have eternal life?”

17 Jesus answered, “Why do you ask me about what is good? Only God is
good. But if you want to have eternal life, obey the law’s commands.”

18 The man asked, “Which ones?”

Jesus answered, “‘You must not murder anyone, you must not commit
adultery, you must not steal, you must not tell lies about others, 19
you must respect your father and mother,’[e] and ‘love your
neighbor[f] the same as you love yourself.’[g]”

He says:

Exodus 20:13 (KJV) Thou shalt not kill.

Notice that there are no unless, or if this, or that...etc.

The Old Testament commands to fight wicked nations, but that does not apply in the New Testament. For example,

The Catholic Church teaches that the Law of Moses (the Old Law) is a
preparation for the Gospel, and as such no longer binding. The New Law
(the Law of Gospel) is a perfection of it, given through faith in
Christ.

And here is an example of a perfect part: Jesus specifically tells us at the Sermon on the mound we should not stand up for ourselves and that we should pray for such people. When Jesus returns He will then take care of the wicked or will call us to help Him. It is very hard to accept. (Do I personally think I could do it in all situations, I do not know...but looking at Jesus the answer is there.)

We forget JesusIS GOD - FROM GODS MOUTH: read carefully:

You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a
tooth.' But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever
slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone
wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.
Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who
asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from
you. You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor
and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for
those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:39-44)

Doesn't leave much room for killing. Some say it is Jesus using a hyperbole but if He was he would have said so.

"Odinism has lately gained in popularity among white supremacists who
believe that Jesus is too peaceful and too Jewish to worship, White
said. "It's hard to get a violent god out of Jesus."

As followers in Christ, we do not belong to any country, we belong to our Lord. We are told to obey them but not if it contradicts the word of God.

So being a Christian and in the Military IN A POSITION OF KILLING is not really a Christian concept. There are may Christians who during WWII refused to carry a weapon and were pushed into medical care and other service positions.

This is a scripturally unsupportable viewpoint, as the Ten Commandments were given as part of the Law of Moses, in which God laid out several crimes which were punishable by death, and also soon thereafter he commanded the Israelites to take military action multiple times.
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Mason Wheeler♦Oct 8 '12 at 18:38

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There is no conflict between OT and NT here, in fact Jesus affirms and even expands the meaning of this commandment. You have, however, utterly failed to engage the issue of interpreting the original commandment, skipping over the scriptural distinction between just any kind of death and murder. After skipping that, your interpretations continue to either miss the plain word meaning of the text or the context in which they are found. Nobody here is trying to say that war is good, but this is not a sound way to prove it is bad and only confuses what the role of an individual may be.
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Caleb♦Oct 9 '12 at 7:30

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If you are not allowed to take a life in any context or situation, then what do you eat? Can you wash your hands? To answer anything other than "nothing" and "no" implies that your premise, "...this commandment means exactly what it says," is flawed in some way.
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Kaz DragonOct 9 '12 at 14:14

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@GregMcNulty Even if one stipulates that Christ taught that it was never OK to kill, that cannot be what was intended in the ten commandments: the Levitical law prescribes the death penalty far too often for that interpretation to hold even the slightest validity (without implying some psycho-emotional break on the part of the authors of the Torah).
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Ignatius TheophorusOct 9 '12 at 18:35

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Just wanted to add to this that the value of the life of heathens and even of Israelites changed 180 degrees by Jesus actions on earth (specifically his the salvation he brought). Thus it is quite possible to reconcile Jesus pacifist message with the aggressive nature of the old testament. One should however not blindly read the message of the NT into the OT as you were doing now@GregMcNulty.
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David MulderJun 9 '14 at 2:17